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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
I hope everyone had a marvelous Easter weekend. Even with the rain it was an example of how things can be very different from one minute to another, one day to another, and one year to another. We are always in transition from one place to another, and we need to realize how important that is.
I have no idea how your day is going today – no matter what day it is. You have no idea how my day is going – again, no matter what day it is. Today, I guess I am feeling wistful looking out the window with the sun shining, the trees green, and a cool breeze blowing (at this moment!). All of this just reinforces how I feel about nothing remaining the same even though it might seem like it does. And, we need to embrace all of the differences we are surrounded by.
God created each one of us in His image, but with individual distinct traits. We are all created with many things in common, even if some things may appear different.
We have skin – regardless of the color or shade. We all have a heart – regardless if it is a cold heart or warm heart. We have the same limbs, organs and other physical characteristics. But since God is infinite, so are we.
We are each very distinct individuals and will be influenced by very different experiences as we grow. Our knowledge, understanding, feelings, and opinions are formed by our surroundings and the other people in our lives. Now, remember, we have NO choice in ANY of this. We are born with a basic clean slate.
So how did we get to the point of such disagreement? We were not born with racist feelings and opinions; we were not born questioning our sexuality; we were not born with a basic dislike – or love – of another person.
I know this is getting deep, and I also know there is really no easy answers or even a solution. Somehow I just want to remember that we have an ability every day to make the day good or bad – depending on our very own attitude. However, I do accept the theories of DNA and genetics, but I think it just takes more work to overcome issues.
I have days I wake up and get excited about what the day will bring, but, I also have days I wake up and just want to go back to sleep. Some days are productive, and some are totally UNproductive. Some days I am happy and upbeat, and others I’m sad or depressed. And, some days I just want to pick a fight! But, I also know that whatever feeling I have will change before the day is over. Isn’t that a great thing! I’m not tied into any one feeling!
When I get up to write my columns I rarely know what topic will come up. If I’m really into the current events that’s where I’ll go. But other days, like today, I just start thinking. Even though I know I can have a dark side, I have pretty much been a “rose-colored glasses, Pollyanna” type all my life. And I know many of you will not know what that means! It means I tend to be mainly positive in my way of thinking, I see the glass half full instead of half empty, I see the good in people and not the bad, and I always hope for the best.
This past week I saw a post on Facebook about being pulled into other people’s drama and I realized I let too many outside issues dominate my feelings and thoughts. I am now trying to adhere to the theory that “it’s not my circus, and it’s not my monkey!”
I am at the stage in life where I want to be selfish, self-centered, narcissistic, and self-absorbed. I’ve worked and sacrificed so now it’s MY time! But, I also realize as much as I WANT to be, the chances that I CAN be are slim. But, I’m also going to try to find a very happy medium between that line of thought and my basic nature.
All of this goes to say: God created you. You control yourself. You can overcome your surroundings and the people around you. If you don’t like yourself, change your attitude and change the type of people you have in your circle.
Life is too short – especially the older you get – to let negative suck the positive out of you. Laugh, cry, scream, shout – experience it all as you need to, but then move to the next thing and don’t stay in one place. Choose to make the most out of every minute of life you have.
Another Easter thought – there wouldn’t be an Easter Sunday celebration of Jesus’s resurrection if there hadn’t been Jesus’s death on Friday. Where would we all be without those two events?